110th season of Big Ten football kicks off today

Gophers Streaking in Non-Conference Play: Minnesota extended its non-conference winning streak to 19 games with a victory over Florida Atlantic. The Gophers have not lost to a non-league foe in more than three seasons, including bowl wins in 2002, 2003 and 2004, as their last non-Big Ten loss came on Aug. 30, 2001.

Minnesota (3-0): The Gophers are off to their fourth straight 3-0 start as the team raced out to a 5-0 mark last season. Minnesota leads the country with 335.0 rushing yards per game while also appearing in the top 10 nationally with 47.7 points per game (6th nationally; 1st in Big Ten) and 553.3 yards of total offense per outing (6th nationally; 2nd in Big Ten). Running back Laurence Maroney leads the conference and ranks second in the country with 160.3 yards per contest while also appearing among the nation's top six with 183.3 all-purpose yards (6th nationally; 2nd in Big Ten) and 14.0 points per game (T5th nationally; 2nd in Big Ten).


Purdue (2-0): The Boilermakers are 2-0 for the second straight year after opening at 5-0 last season. Purdue leads the country by allowing only 16.0 rushing yards per game while also ranking 18th nationally (4th in the Big Ten) with 40.0 points per game offensively. Running back Jerod Void is tied for eighth in the country with 12.0 points per game while averaging 104.0 rushing yards per outing, which ranks fourth in the league and is tied for 25th nationally.


September 19, 2005-The Big Ten Conference Office announced today that the University of Minnesota’s 86th homecoming game against Purdue at the Metrodome this Saturday, Sept. 24 at 11 a.m., will be televised nationally on ESPN.